NFL rules forced Saquon Barkley to divest Polymarket stake, player says

Barkley exits Polymarket under NFL policy

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said he sold his equity stake in Polymarket because NFL rules prohibit players from investing in or endorsing gambling and prediction-market companies. “I am not in that right now,” Barkley told Front Office Sports. “I am not allowed to be in that.”

Barkley said the league informed players before the season that they could not have financial interests in prediction-market platforms or do business with them through endorsement deals or investments. “So I kinda had to get out of that,” he said. His investment had been disclosed in a September 2025 profile.

League confirms the broader prohibition

On Wednesday, the NFL confirmed that its rules prohibit investments in and promotion of sportsbooks and prediction markets, but it did not comment on Barkley’s specific circumstances. Polymarket also declined to comment.

The NFL Players Association said in January that it considers prediction markets gambling entities and therefore bars players from endorsing or serving as ambassadors for companies such as Kalshi or Polymarket. The distinction between an endorsement and an investment became material to Barkley because his Polymarket interest was disclosed before the league updated players about its restrictions.

Prediction markets remain part of other leagues’ partnerships

The NFL’s prohibition contrasts with recent agreements elsewhere in major professional sports. The NBA announced Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred prediction-market partners this week, although the agreement does not apply to the WNBA. MLB reached an exclusive Polymarket deal in March that Front Office Sports reported could be worth up to $300 million over four years, while MLS announced a Polymarket agreement in January.

The NHL announced agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket last October. The NFL, which has official sports-betting partners including DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics, has not adopted a prediction-market partnership and barred prediction-market Super Bowl advertisements last year.

Barkley’s divestiture remains player-attested

Front Office Sports reported Barkley’s account, while ProFootballTalk separately relayed the same development. The league’s confirmation establishes the general rule but does not independently verify when Barkley sold his interest, the amount realized or the identity of the buyer. No proceeds figure or other transaction terms were disclosed in the reviewed reporting.